Town Opens New Soccer Complex

The Town of Mount Pleasant officially opened a $2.2-million soccer complex on Monday near Carolina Park.

The 45-acre complex accommodates rapid growth in soccer participation, and the complex could be expanded in a few years.

“Soccer is twice as popular as any other sport we have here,” said Town Councilman Paul S. Gawrych, who chairs the recreation committee. “Lacrosse, I’m told, is quickly sneaking up on us, and it will be played here, too, along with football.”

The complex, located just off Airport Road on Recreation Way, includes three lit fields and one field without lighting. Future expansion could add baseball or softball fields or perhaps more soccer fields, based on need, Gawrych said.

The land was donated by Carolina Park developers to offset impact fees. Those fees are typically paid to the town to mitigate public costs associated with real estate development.

The $2.2 million cost, however, came from improvements to the low-lying land, as well as the installation of lights, roads and parking. City leaders say some parts of the soccer complex were two feet under water, but an advanced drainage system now makes it ideal for team sports.

"This is the best field we’ll have in this town,” said Ken Ayoub, director of parks and recreation. “We anticipate 6,000 people using these fields each year. It will withstand weather and use. It drains really well.”

Planners delayed opening the park for eight months just to allow the complex’s turf to grow to proper thickness. On Monday, just minutes after town officials cut the ribbon on the complex, kids took to the fields for the first soccer practice of the season.